April 17, 2015
| Members Present: | Members Absent: |
| Representative Sondra Erickson, Chair | Representative Connie Bernardy |
| Representative Rick Hansen | Senator Warren Limmer |
| Representative Phyllis Kahn | Senator James Metzen |
| Representative Duane Quam | Senator Roger J. Reinert |
| Representative Linda Runbeck | |
| Senator Michelle Benson | |
| Senator Mary Kiffmeyer | |
| Senator Ann H. Rest |
Representative Sondra Erickson, Chair, called the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to approve the evaluation topics selected by the Evaluation Subcommittee.
Representative Erickson asked Representative Hansen, Chair of the Evaluation Subcommittee, to give a summary of the subcommittee’s last meeting. Representative Hansen said that six topics—along with a seventh topic to be done as time and funds permit—were unanimously chosen to be recommended to the full commission. He also explained that the Board of Chiropractic Examiners had come forward with a request to be evaluated by the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). He said that the subcommittee members agreed that the board should present its case to the full commission at today’s meeting. Representative Hansen moved to adopt the list of evaluation topics recommended by the subcommittee, which were the following:
Deer Population Management
Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB)
Mental Health Services in County Jails
Minnesota Board of Teaching
Minnesota Department of Health HMO Complaint Process
MnDOT Project Selection
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) (only as time/funds permit)
Representative Erickson asked Jim Nobles, Legislative Auditor, and Judy Randall, Evaluation Manager, for comments prior to the members voting on the motion. Mr. Nobles said he felt the topic selection process had been successful this year. Ms. Randall ran through the chosen list of evaluation topics. After some discussion among the members, the motion prevailed.
Representative Erickson invited Dr. Larry Spicer, Executive Director for the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, to address the commission. Dr. Spicer apologized for bringing his request to the commission this late in the process, but that he had only recently learned about OLA’s evaluation of the Board of Nursing and felt that a review of the Chiropractic Board would be similar. He said the board knows that OLA would be fully independent and have no vested interest, unlike the other options they have for a review.
Mr. Nobles offered three options for the commission: (1) add the Chiropractic Board to the approved list of topics, but all other evaluations would come first; (2) add the board to the approved list of topics, and put it ahead of the review of AURI; or (3) Mr. Nobles can look into the situation and determine if it allows him to use his authority to review it as a special investigation. Representative Hansen encouraged members that option three be chosen. All members agreed that was the approach OLA should take.
Representative Erickson said that she had been contacted by Mr. Heller in regards to the readability of OLA reports. Mr. Nobles said that OLA had been contacted by Mr. Heller as well, and that the office is currently working with the House, Senate, and Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) to correct the issue.
With no further business, Representative Erickson adjourned the meeting at 1:31 p.m.
Representative Sondra Erickson, Chair
Shelly Watterud, Recording Secretary
